VPHS Update
April 2021
A Note From Dr. Luhning
VPHS Family,
We have just about made it to May. It has been such a turbulent year, but I take great pride in the fact that our students, our parents/guardians, staff, and our community have been able to attend in person school four days a week since October and continued to use our virtual Fridays for learning and support. I continue to remind our students and staff to keep practicing safety measures to stay safe and to finish the year strong.
There are many events happening throughout the last few days of April and the month of May. I have the events listed in multiple sections throughout this newsletter. Please pay particular attention to the Awards Ceremony and Graduation. These are events that we needed approval from St. Louis County and must adhere to all guidelines for these events.
Lastly, I need to apologize to our students, parents/guardians, and community members for Valley Park High School not being recognized for schools in the Post Dispatch A Honor Roll. It was a mistake on our part, the good news is that all of our students that had an A average 1st semester will still receive two Cardinal tickets. The tickets can be picked up in the main office when they arrive. For a list of studnets that have qualified for A honor roll 1st semester, please use the following link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1INy2s6cZmAQjMw2CaS3Iv8OF2kDuSAJHjG18In43IvI/edit?usp=sharing
We will announce when students can pick up their Cardinal tickets when they arrive.
For more information regarding district messaging to our families please use the following link:
We are Valley Park Strong!
Dr. Luhning
Our mission is to provide a supportive, personalized environment in which students will grow strong intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially today in preparation for tomorrow.
Valley Park High School Academic Excellence Award/Valley Park School District Scholarship Award/ and Senior Athletic Award Ceremony
(If weather does not allow for the event to take place there will not be a make-up date and awards will be given to students during the school day)
- Only those receiving an award have been invited to the event
- Each award winner can bring two guests
- Invited student and guests will sit in pods of three properly spaced in the softball field outfield
- Masks covering nose and mouth must be worn at the event
Award winners and their parents/guardians have received an email invitation with a link to RSVP to the event. Please RSVP before April 30th.
This event includes the gathering of a significant number of individuals which means that there is a high level of risk for transmission of COVID-19 despite our mitigation efforts. The St. Louis County Department of Public Health cannot guarantee the safety of those who choose to participate.
Senior CarCarade
Join us to celebrate the Class of 2021 on May 16th with a Student CarCarade through the Valley Park Community:
Senior vehicles will enter the Valley Park School District Parking Lot from Main Street, they will be allowed to enter the parking lot at 1:30 PM to line up in the middle school lot. The parade will begin at 2:00 PM. They will turn right into the parking lot and snake through the middle school parking lot, lining up at the baseball dugout. The lot will be marked and directed by VPHS staff.
- Seniors should wear masks throughout the carcarade
- Seniors can ride in vehicles together, we strongly encourage an adult driver for each vehicle
- No candy or other items should be thrown from a vehicle
- Decorating the vehicle with signs and other celebratory materials is strongly encouraged
- Everyone must stay in their vehicles during the carcarade
- Vehicles without a member of the Class of 2021 will not be permitted
- Students can wear their graduation cap and gown in the parade if they choose
Parade Route:
*Depart VPHS and take Valley School Drive to Crescent and turn right over bridge.
*From there use the same route as the Valley Days Parade:
*South on Meramec Station Rd to Fernridge.
*Right on to Lookout Ave down to Forest Ave.
*Right on to Forest to Didian. Left on Didian to Beckett Memorial left on Vest to 9th St
*9th Street circle back to to Benton St.
*Benton Street down to the City Hall.
*Parade will end and disperse at City Hall
Class of 2021 Graduation
- Students should bring their caps and gowns for graduation practice
- Please arrive at or before 10:00 AM
May 21 7:00 PM Graduation in the Valley Park School District Fieldhouse
Doors will open for the event at 6:30 PM
Masks must be worn by everyone during the entire ceremony
The Class of 2021 will sit in rows in front of the stage 4-6 feet apart
Each graduate will be given a pod of 4 seats for their guests that are spaced throughout the fieldhouse 6 feet apart (Additional guests cannot attend the event)
The event will be live streamed, a link will be shared by email, on social media, and on our website.
This event includes the gathering of a significant number of individuals which means that there is a high level of risk for transmission of COVID-19 despite our mitigation efforts. The St. Louis County Department of Public Health cannot guarantee the safety of those who choose to participate.
Senior Activities
May 1-20
Senior Social Media Spotlights
Before Graduation
Senior Yard Signs
May 4:
Awards Night
May 10-14:
Senior Final Exams
May 13:
Seniors last day of classes
May 16:
2:00 PM Senior Car Parade-The senior class will participate in a car parade through Valley Park
May 17-21:
Senior Spotlight Pictures displayed on VPSD Message Board
May 21:
10:00 AM Graduation practice in the fieldhouse
7:00 PM Graduation in the fieldhouse-We have been approved by St. Louis County to hold our Class of 2021 graduation ceremony in the Valley Park School District Fieldhouse
State Testing Update
Valley Park High School students prior to graduation are required by the State of Missouri to take an End of Course Exam in the following content areas: Biology, Algebra I, English II, and Government. April 27-May 4 we will test students that are taking English 10 to satisfy the English II end of course exam and students taking AP Government or Government to satisfy the Government end of course exam. In addition any seniors that have not taken one of these tests will be asked to take that end of course exam.
For more information on state testing, please read the following message from Dr. Savage.
https://www.vp.k12.mo.us/cms/lib/MO01947787/Centricity/Domain/4/March%2010%20email.pdf
Dr. Luhning
Email: rluhning@vp.k12.mo.us
Website: https://www.vp.k12.mo.us/vphs
Location: One Main Street Valley Park, MO 63088
Phone: 636-923-3616
Twitter: @DrLuhningVPHS
Valley Park School District Early Childhood Center Update
Upcoming Events
April 27, 28, 29 English II and Government EOC Exams
May AP Exams
May 3-7 National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4 Awards Night 6:00 PM Softball Field
May 7 Fall Musical 8:00 PM in Parking Lot
May 10-14 Senior Final Exams
May 14 Seniors Last Day
May 16 2:00 PM Senior Car Parade
May 20 Band Concert 7:45 VP Parking Lot
May 21 7:00 PM Graduation
May 24-27 Final Exams
May 27 Last student/staff attendance day
For more information please visit VPSD website:
Congratulations
Allison Carew
Tanner Moller Prom King
Sarah Farless
Radu Nistoroiu
Kaylah Petty
Alex Schilling
Emily Stiles Prom Queen
Ian Steinkamp
VP FBLA
Lauren Farless for placing 8th in Spreadsheet Applications (Excel)
Cole Freeman for placing 10th in Journalism
Lindsay Chappell for placing 6th in Introduction to Business Procedures
VPHS Junior, Arielle Pedersen is honored to be chosen as one of the finalists for The Fabulous Fox Theatre's Performing Arts Charitable Foundation Teen Competition. After over 230 high school students in the St. Louis Metropolitan Region applied, approximately 140 entered the Preliminary Round. Regional theatre and performing arts professionals throughout St. Louis were tasked to narrow the competition to 50 Semi-Finalists. From that select group of talented high school students, Arielle was among the final 14 to be chosen by another elite group of professionals in our area to compete for awards, cash prizes and scholarships and perform on The Fabulous Fox Stage.
Congratulations to our Valley Park Teacher of the Year, Tom Probst!
Congratulations to our Valley Park Support Staff Member of the Year, Tina Elsner!
Congrats to our VPHS Student Council for being awarded the Missouri Association of Student Councils Gold Honor Award. They were honored for their involvement at the local level, involvement in the Gateway District Student Council and involvement at the state level. The state council recognizes student councils that have a comprehensive program for promoting student activities and leadership. We all know how great the VPHS STUCO is and how much they do to make our school great. Thank you Gerrie, Kristie, and the entire student council.
Congratulations to Jake Brentz who made the opening day roster for the Kansas City Royals. Jake is the brother of elementary counselor and VPHS softball coach Ashley Hawkins.
The district hosted 21 focus groups that included 161 participants to provide feedback to help inform the design of our new strategic plan. We had 31 parents/guardians, 64 staff members, 51 students, and 15 community members. This in person feedback is in addition to the 550 community members that responded to the survey earlier this year.
Student Absences
If a student is on quarantine links to class Zoom are shared on Infinite Campus. Non-quarantined students can use Zoom links to classes if your teacher has one made, Zoom links are not made for students who are not quarantined.